msimeki

[msimeki]

Being world-class lies not just in reaching the destination but in enjoying every step of the journey

Back in the days of scraped knees and dreams as big as the sky, I was a kid who believed in being the greatest of all time. It didn't matter what path life would lead me down; in my mind, it was destined to be on a world-class level. Growing up, my cousin Rito Hlungwani was a hero of sorts. He's the forwards coach for the Stormers and a United Rugby Championship champion. I remember thinking, "Maybe I'll be a Springbok rugby player one day," simply because he played rugby. I even took up the same position, number 5, in homage to him.

Now, years later, I find myself on a different journey, steering the ship at WOOSH, a creative agency. Although miles away from the rugby field, the dream remains—to be the best at what I do. There's a certain charm in being world-class, a unique je ne sais quoi.

As time rolled on, experiences shaped my perspective, refining what I consider "world-class." It's not just about Porsche as a car brand but also Singer Vehicle Design, breathing new life into Porsches. I've learned that regardless of your field, the dream of being world-class is within reach. You might be wondering, even for a gardener? Yes, even your landscaper (see what I did there?). Take Mbali Nhlapo, for instance—a housekeeper turned viral sensation, offering tips on homemaking. If the president were dropping by for dinner, she's the one I'd call to prep my home.

Over the past year, the passion for being world-class has quietly tiptoed back into my heart as I aim to elevate WOOSH into one of the best creative agencies globally. Our growth isn't just about revenue; it's about the calibre and quality of the work we produce. To be the best means going the extra mile—not just for clients but for myself. It's a reminder that on this journey, staying true to the course requires relentless striving, fuelled by a tunnel vision that sees beyond the horizon.

Each project is an opportunity to not only showcase our skills but to redefine what it means to be world-class in the creative realm. It's not just about delivering a service; it's about crafting an experience that lingers, leaving an indelible mark on the canvas of our clients' visions. It's like we get to be rock stars, but in a world that we understand.

So here's to childhood dreams that shape our ambitions and to the journey that turns those dreams into creative realities. May we keep chasing world-class, not just because the world demands it, but because our souls crave the pursuit of excellence. After all, the beauty of being world-class lies not just in reaching the destination but in enjoying every step of the journey.

Msimeki Nkatingi #WELCOME2MYTHOUGHTS

[msimeki]

The sun always rises.

I’m in the middle of a lunch meeting at a top restaurant in Pretoria, with one of the country’s top CEO’s. He says something that no entrepreneur ever wants to hear, “if you don’t tell me what you want, then I won’t know how to help you.” It’s been a long day that only promises to get longer. My week has been full of nothing but closed door after closed door. At this very moment, the odds look like they are all not in my favour.

On my drive back home, I listen to some Drake, as well as a few motivational videos from youtube. I wonder to myself, “how are you even able to handle a week such as the one that you’ve just had? How do you keep your head up?”

This was the philosophical question that went through my mind today. What is it that determines whether one gets back up when they fall down? Grant Cardone says; “if you fall, make sure you fall forward so you can at least see where you’re falling to”. This, like many other great quotes, is much easier said than done. Day in and day out, we hear it all the time, do this, do that, keep your head above the water, blah blah blah, nyweh nyweh; but I for one know that it gets exhausting after a while.

There are two things that I have learnt in order to keep my head up. The first being, keep your mind focused on the BIG goal, the long term vision, the final destination. Of course in order to achieve this, one must do the short term things and achieve the small goals, but don’t spend too much time stressing or congratulating yourself for these. Jim Rohn puts it best by saying; “Major int the major things, and minor in the minor things. Don’t major in the minors and minor in the majors”

The second thing that I’ve learnt is that “tough times don’t last, but tough people do”. Ultimately, to deal with the lows that life throws our way, we must constantly remind ourselves that nothing lasts forever, not even this life that we live. Life may have its ups and downs, but we must always look beyond the downs. The reason why no one freaks out when the sun disappears at night, is simply because we know that it will reappear in the morning. And thus, why make a big deal out of it? Tomorrow is a new day, the sun always rises.

Msimeki Nkatingi

#WELCOME2MYTHOUGHTS

[msimeki]

Re–find myself

So what do you do when everything happens in the wrong order? Your full proof plan seems not so full proof after all? The very things that you live for, seem not to live for you? From all that you’ve known to all that you have done seeming as if it’s meaningless! Do you question your very being? Your entire existence, what is it for?

You search until you find yourself. Surely along the way you may have lost yourself and now you can feel yourself missing! Sometimes all it takes is a nudge in the right direction. For to be happy is to be yourself. To be happy is to find contentment in just being. To be happy is to be without lack. Because lack comes from a lack of contentment. 

Once you realize that everything that you ever needed you always had; then, can you only be content. For to reach the heights of the depths of your soul requires deep digging form higher places.

Find yourself. Thank you for helping me re–find myself.

#WELCOME2MYTHOUGHTS

[msimeki]

This just got me in my feels. Make me want to fall in love typa feels

(stwo)

[msimeki]

If I could do this I would be a problem. God knew!

[msimeki]

For to win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill.

Sun Tzu

[msimeki]

I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed

Michael Jordan

[msimeki]

Your favourite rappers favourite rapper! Andre 3000

[msimeki]

This GALXBOY ad could go toe-to-toe with any NIKE/ADIDAS/BEATS ad...

I’m not into hip-hop streetwear anymore so I don’t resonate with the clothing line. But I do however resonate with the talent and vision. This is worth you noticing. Watch it happen or you’ll wonder how it happened.

[msimeki]

If you want to be great, be great

It seems that my favourite opening line for blog posts these days is “it’s been a while since I last wrote”. Clearly I do not write as often as I used to. But as explained in a blog post many moons ago, I have learnt that one should listen twice as much as they speak. Or rather in this case, read twice as much as they write.

This helps one to learn and gain both knowledge and wisdom. It is good to gain knowledge and wisdom, as these two pieces of characteristics, have led to making some of the greatest women and men in the world. While waiting for a friend this morning, I stepped into Exclusive Books and opened up a random page from “The Thabo Mbeki I Know”. Fascinating stuff. Truly the most intellectual president that the country has ever had. A mind that very few could compete with.

Reading up on President Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki was invigorating to say the least. He seems to have been naturaly drawn to anything that gave wisdom and knowledge. It seems that the most powerful weapon within his arsenal was his willingness to read, coupled with his ability to contextualise as well as understand rather quickly. 

It is said of the former President, that when given reports from his subordinates, made it a point to go through these reports thoroughly. Apparently it was quite difficult to get away with a weak report when handing it in to him.

I look at Honourable Mbeki and I wonder what it takes to reach the heights that he has reached. To be one of the most respected leaders of all African history? To have impacted an entire continent, if not planet. 

To be a Mbeki of ones generation, one must be exceptional. To be exceptional requires exceptional effort. One does not become exceptional through adopting mediocre routines and habits. So here’s to the accumulation of knowledge as well as the continuous striving towards ones goals. If you want to be great, be great.

Msimeki Nkatingi

#WELCOME2MYTHOUGHTS

[msimeki]

Bullets do not choose a victim It is the shooter that picks 'em

Drake

[msimeki]

Nothing is impossible to a willing heart.

John Heywood

[msimeki]

Masego doing the MOST!

[msimeki]

I think women are foolish to pretend they are equal to men, they are far superior and always have been

William Golding

[msimeki]

9/10 "Make each day your masterpiece" - #JohnWooden #Handlettering by @michaelmasinga #Photography by myself _________________________________________ #instagram_sa #vscosouthafrica #vscocam #vsco #igerssouthafrica #instagood #thisissouthafrica #instagram #hypebeast #instapic #picoftheday #pixelpanda_za #southafricaletsme #foreversouthafrica #vscodaily #vscogood #instadaily #exploretocreate #quoteoftheday #quotes #typegang #visualsgang #typographyinspired #ligaturecollective #lettering #letteringco

[msimeki]

Andre 3000: Okay, challenge

Leave your phone unlocked and right side up

Walk out the room without throwin' your bitch off balance

It's either on or off, ain't no in between when it's valid

I seem to wanna talk more and more 'bout what really matters

I've seen my aura hop out my torso and hit her backwards

Flip watchin' you skip down my corridor, fuck a ballad

Don't need shit on the side no more, I should know, fuck a salad

I often have awesome thoughts of tossin' this softer palate

So when we fall any wall, any stall, any crawl, any pause

Any scar, any tar, any dark will dissolve, kill them all

Build-a-bear, build them all, build it where it won't fall

Give it all, give it my all, yeah

Don't wear any drawers, any bra, anymore, in it raw, isn't it raw?

I'm in awe, I'm involved, common law, cummin' on stomach wall

Kermit frog jump off London fog

Bridges in the midst of callgirls my woman calls

Unicorn, you my porn

I don't know

I don't know

I don't know, I don't know, I don't know

I don't know

Will this bitch click over for me?

I mean will this woman click over for me?

Over for me? Over for me?

Is it over for me? Over for me? Over for me?

I don't know

I don't know

I don't know, I don't know, I don't know

I don't know

Is this bitch gettin' over on me?

If I go down will she go down with me?

Should I, I not be so open, I mean?

Open, I mean? You know what I mean?

Know what I mean?

I don't know

I don't know I don't know, I don't know, I don't know

I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know (I don't know)

Will this bitch click over for me?

I mean will this woman click over for me?

Over for me? Over for me?

Is it over for me? Over for me? Over for me?

I don't know

I don't know, I don't know

I don't know, I don't know, I don't know

I don't know

Is this bitch gettin' over on me?

If I go down will she go down with me?

Should I, I not be so open, I mean?

Open, I mean? You know what I mean?

Know what I mean?

See you, see you

I see it that you want, as much as I do you

I take for granted, that you're always there

I take for granted, that you just don't care

And sometimes

It's just too hard to see it through, babe

And that's why

[msimeki]

Andre 3000: Since you been gone

I been having withdrawals

You were such a habit to call

I ain't myself at all had to tell myself naw

She's better with some fella with a regular job

I didn't wanna get her involved

By dinner Mr. Benjamin was sittin' in awe

Hopped into my car drove far

Far's too close and I remember

My memories no sharp

Butter knife what a life anyway

I'm building y'all a clock stop

What am I, Hemingway?

She had the kind of body

That would probably intimidate

Any of 'em that were un-southern

Not me cousin

If models are made for modeling

Thick girls are made for cuddlin'

Switch worlds and we can huddle then

Who needs another friend

I need to hold your hand

You'd need no other man

We'd flee to other lands